Need You for Keeps

When it comes to caring for the furry residents of St. Helena, California, groomer and pet rescuer Shay Michaels can handle anything. Humans are another story, though--especially Deputy Jonah Baudouin. He's the town's resident superhero: upright, uptight, and jaw-droppingly gorgeous, even when he's investigating complaints about Shay's beloved foster animals. And that spells danger for Shay, a free spirit who can't risk trusting the wrong person again.

Her Hopes and Dreams: Ardent Springs, Book 4

As a newly single mother, Carrie Farmer isn't quite ready to jump back into the dating pool in Ardent Springs - especially since her last marriage was such a disaster. But if anyone could entice her to wade in a bit, it would be her hunky neighbor, Noah Winchester. He's the perfect man: strong, protective, and smoking hot. But her eyes have deceived her before, and she's no longer willing to hand over her heart so easily.

Chasing I Do: The Eastons, Book 1

Darcy Kincaid might be a runaway bride, but she still believes in happily ever after, which is why she's devoted to helping couples orchestrate their perfect I do. Even though her fiancée turned out to be unfaithful and a big disappointment, Darcy walked away from her wedding. Now, a single mom, it's up to Darcy to secure her daughter's future, which is why she's invested her life savings into renovating Belle Mont Manor, Portland's oldest, and nearly forgotten, wedding venue.

Accidentally Hers: Sterling Canyon

When ruggedly sexy backcountry guide Grey Lowell moves to Sterling Canyon, Colorado, after buying the ski-expedition company Backtrax, his plans don't include romance. Still, it's fun to look - especially across a crowded restaurant at a beauty he dubs "Bambi". But all his plans change later that night when he's injured by a drunk driver.

Not Quite Perfect: Not Quite Series, Book 5

Mary Kildare knows how to read people. It's both why she makes a great therapist and why she refuses to trust the average bachelor. Staying fiercely independent has been her primary relationship strategy - until wealthy playboy pilot (and commitmentphobe) Glen Fairchild reappears in her life. After a yearlong teasing tug-of-war, Mary and Glen test the waters of attraction, only to find that their physical chemistry runs deeper than flirtation.

Suddenly in Love: A Lake Haven Novel, Book 1

Mia Lassiter is thrilled to finally put her artistic skills to use working for her aunt's interior design shop in her hometown of East Beach. While renovating an old mansion overlooking stunning Lake Haven, she encounters a scruffy but attractive man named Brennan - the owner's son. She doesn't realize this sexy recluse is actually Everett Alden, the world-famous rock star in hiding who's nursing his own artistic and personal crises.

Doing It Over: Most Likely to, Book 1

Voted Most Likely to Succeed, Melanie Bartlett ended up anything but. The down-on-her-luck single mom wants a complete do-over - is that too much to ask? With her family long gone from River Bend, strong, independent Mel is as surprised as anyone to end up in the quaint small town she once called home. But with her friends, Jo and Zoe, by her side, and a comfortable room at Miss Gina's quirky bed-and-breakfast, she just might have turned the corner on a new life.

Worth the Wait

Thirteen years ago, Vivi LeBrun was sketching a rooster and eating Oreos when she first met - and fell for - her friend's brother, David St. James. Since then, her love for David has only intensified thanks to years of friendship with his family, who rescued her from a lonely, tumultuous childhood. As she travels to Block Island to vacation with the St. James siblings, Vivi daydreams about reuniting with David, hoping he'll finally see her as his soul mate.

This Thing Called Love: A Mirror Lake Novel

New York City self-help editor Olivia Marks faces her toughest assignment yet: parenthood. When her sister dies in a car accident, the career-oriented Olivia suddenly becomes the guardian to her four-week-old niece, Annabelle. She also becomes a challenge for Annabelle's uncle, Brad Rushford, an old flame whose gorgeous green eyes bring Olivia's fevered memories rushing back.

This Loving Feeling: Mirror Lake, Book 3

Samantha Rushford's future looks bright: the high school art teacher is getting ready to leave Mirror Lake and move to Boston with her ambitious boyfriend, and she hopes a diamond ring is just around the corner. But her past still has a hold on her - especially the bittersweet memory of her rebellious ex, who kissed her passionately before he left town without a word.

Crazy for Her: A K2 Team Novel, Book 1

When his best friend and fellow Navy SEAL, Evan Prescott, died in his arms on the battlefield, Logan Kincaid gave his word to watch over Evan's widow. But for two years he kept his distance... torn between honoring his solemn vow and succumbing to his secret love for his fallen comrade's wife. But when Dani Prescott desperately reaches out to Logan for the help only he can give, he rushes to her side - determined to fight for her safety as fiercely as he fights against his own buried desire.

G. House Sr. says:"A solid feel good romance - the series has promise"

Worth the Risk: St. James, Book 3

When Jackson St. James decided that six weeks in Vermont's Green Mountains would help him get his life together, he didn't anticipate replacing his craving for whiskey with a craving for his alluring new landlord, Gabby. Now, instead of prioritizing his sobriety and the resolution of the lawsuit threatening his business, he's making excuses to spend time with the spunky young landscaper whose candor is more than a little addictive.

Montana Rescue: The Wildes of Birch Bay, Book 2

Championship bull rider Nick Wilde is the face of Montana Pro Rodeo, with all the acclaim and fans he can handle. But is that enough? Contemplating his next career move, he's come home to his family's cherry orchard - and to his childhood crush, helicopter pilot Harper Stone. But Harper's not quite the sexy, badass girl he once lusted after. Recently widowed, she's broken in two. Wanting to help her move on, Nick finds himself aching for the kind of stability he never had as a child.

It's in His Heart: A Red River Valley Novel

Ella Dennings is furious. Soaking wet, muddy, and furious. All she wants is to enjoy a quiet summer retreat in her Red River cabin. Maybe she can finish healing after the death of her husband, Bradley. Maybe she can even start writing that third book in her top secret bestselling erotica series. But when she arrives at the cabin in a raging June rainstorm, who does she find holed up there but Cooper Wells, Bradley's sexy best friend - a man capable of seducing women of all ages and cup sizes within seconds - and a man Ella has never liked.

His First and Last: Ardent Springs

At eighteen, Lorelei Pratchett couldn't wait to get out of her hometown. Twelve years later, her Hollywood dreams have fizzled and she's back - temporarily, she thinks. Though she throws herself into saving the old theater and starting a baking business, small towns have long memories, and Lorelei's wild past still haunts her. It doesn't help that her ex-boyfriend, Spencer Boyd, is even hotter, smarter, and more distracting than before.

Ex on the Beach

Andie Shayne believes in forever...for everyone else. She has an up-and-coming wedding planning business, and her own failed engagement, to prove it. Now all Andie wants is to save the date for Seaglass Celebrations becoming a premier destination wedding resort. And making sure the wedding of the summer goes off without a hitch will get her there - despite the arrival of one unexpected guest. The sexy-as-sin best man...who’s also the ex who broke Andie’s heart.

Wife by Wednesday: Weekday Brides, Book 1

Blake Harrison: Rich, titled, and charming…and in need of a wife by Wednesday. Blake turns to Sam Elliot, who isn’t the businessman he expected. Instead, Blake is faced with Samantha Elliot, beautiful and feisty with a voice men call 1-900 numbers to hear. Samantha Elliot: Owner of matchmaking firm Alliance and not on the marital menu…that is, until Blake offers her ten million dollars for a one-year contract. And there’s nothing indecent about this proposal. The money will really help with her family’s medical bills. All Samantha will need to do is keep her attraction to her new husband to herself and avoid his bed.

The Billionaire's Voice: The Sinclairs, Book 4

As an extreme-sports mogul, billionaire Micah Sinclair is comfortable taking risks. But nothing - and no one - has ever challenged him like Tessa Sullivan. He's fascinated by the woman who's overcome so much, including the loss of her hearing. The petite blonde dynamo, a small-town restaurateur on the Maine coast, is the most courageous person he knows, and he wants her in his bed. Now all he has to do is convince Tessa to explore their desire.

A Wedding for Christmas: A Twilight, Texas Novel

When bodyguard Ryder Southerland sees his best friend's sister, Katie, at an LA Christmas party, he mistakes the slinky blonde for a celebrity stalker and tackles her. Then they tackle each other at his place. The next morning Katie's gone, and Ryder tells himself it's for the best. It isn't. Now, one Christmas later, Ryder's falling for the woman he's been missing in the town he hasn't missed at all.

Only Her: A K2 Team Novel, Book 5

Former SEAL sniper Cody Roberts has returned from Afghanistan with too many demons and a simple wish: to be left alone. Working for K2 Special Services, caring for the war dogs he rescued, playing his guitar - that's all he wants to do. But Cody is as protective as his nickname, "Dog", suggests. A man like that can't sit back when he realizes the beautiful veterinarian next door is being targeted by an unknown enemy.

Rescuing Harley: Delta Force Heroes, Book 3

Video game coder Harley Kelso thought a tandem skydive would help her make her latest game more realistic. Instead, it literally put her in the arms of the sexiest man she's ever seen. Geeky to the core, Harley is the polar opposite of big and burly Beckett, but that doesn't stop her from wanting to play more carnal games with the sexy soldier.

It Had to Be Him: It Had to Be, Book 1

Even though Meg Anderson's hell-raising days are over, coming home to Anderson Butte isn't easy, especially when her impossible-to-please dad is the mayor and her do-gooder siblings run the place. But with another job lost and the gorgeous father of her daughter trying to make contact after disappearing three years ago, a break is definitely in order. Hopefully the little town filled with big, juicy secrets can help.

The CEO Buys In: Wager of Hearts, Book 1

Self-made billionaire Nathan Trainor feels restless and disillusioned. His company may be thriving, but he can't find a woman who sees him for more than his wealth. With his love life in the red, he meets two other billionaire bachelors at the ultra-exclusive Bellwether Club. The three of them make a wager of the heart: they must find women who love them for who they are, not their money.

Turbulent Desires: Billionaire Aviators

ER nurse Lindsey Helm used to be strong. Then a late-night attack at the hospital nearly killed her and left two close colleagues dead. Now Lindsey has retreated from the world. She knows she needs to move on, but every hint of danger seems threatening - including a certain sexy flyboy who's determined to show Lindsey what she's missing. But falling for F-18 pilot Maverick Armstrong is a risk she can't afford...

Publisher's Summary

Regan Martin stopped believing in Christmas miracles the day she discovered her fiancé was already married.

The fallout cost her everything - her career, her home, and her impeccable reputation in the wine industry. But now she has a second chance with a dream job in the Napa Valley, and a cozy cottage for her and her daughter, whose one Christmas wish is for a forever home.

But those hopes are threatened when Gabe DeLuca, the scorned wife’s brother, tries to drive Regan out of town - even if he can’t seem to drive the luscious beauty from his thoughts. When his attempts to get her to leave backfire, he sees that Regan may hold the key to tracking down his sister’s stolen start-up capital. As Christmas nears, Gabe realizes Regan might even be his Christmas wish and hold the key to his heart.

I don’t know what my true feelings are about this book. Regan was nineteen years old when she was taken advantage of by an older man, who was her mentor, and who also neglected to tell her he was married. Absconding with the funds from the project he was overseeing, abandoning his wife, and leaving his lover pregnant, Regan becomes the target of the DeLucas, who believed she was in on the swindle with him. She was blackballed from every job she got, from California to Oregon, the only thing she knew was the wine industry,but whereever she went the DeLucas found her and used their influence to get her fired. This really bothered me because how long and how far will someone go to make someone’s life miserable, and to keep them from making a life for themselves. The De Luca’s are rich, powerful and with lots of influence in the wine business, was their hounding of this poor girl necessary? Was Gabe DeLucas sister so fragile that she needed her brothers to hound this poor woman for 6 years? Did they ever consider how young she was when she was involved with their brother in law? How suave his brother in law was, and how he used his position to manipulate this young woman, just as he manipulated the De Lucas and their sister, his wife?

Admittedly, Regan made some silly choices and mistakes in this story that annoyed me to no end. However, I loved the three Mrs. Clauses, it seemed to me they were the only ones in this story with an ounce of sense. Gabe DeLuca was redeemed later in my eyes, when he realized what his interference in her life had cost her and her daughter, his guilt kicked in, he then realized maybe she was the innocent she seemed and had been a victim as much as his sister had. One thing I can say about Regan is that she never gave up, she was determined to make a good life for her daughter. Though the story ended happily, I was still unsatisfied, I never heard an apology from the rest of the family for their treatment of her for the past 6 years.

This was my first book/audio by Marina Adair, but won't be the last. She's a wonderful author. She has a way with words that keeps the reader/listener interested, not using a lot of 'filler words' like so many authors do.

It's a sweet story that stirs a variety of emotions...some laughter and perhaps a few tears.

It's about the plight of a single parent, Regan, made harder by the head of the poweful Deluca family, whom she unknowingly wronged. Believing he is protecting his family, he makes her professional life a nightmare, stalking her all over the country, getting her fired and keeping her from getting jobs. Not able to support her daughter and herself in her chosen profession, she takes a job as a maid, but finds help and friendship in the most unexpected places.

Most of the characters are very likeable. Regans 5 year old daughter, Holly, is adorable.

Renee Raudman gave a good performance. At first I didn't think I would like her narration, but she got better, and better as the story progressed.

I would never read or listen to this author again! Gabe is a complete jerk and continues being a jerk throughout the book! How or why he ends up with the girl is beyond me. I have read and listened to other books in this series prior to to this one that I like much more. If you listen to this one first please give her other books a try.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It was a more or less mindless listen. I went in not expecting greatness. The 'hero' was an as*hat, and in my opinion his acts were unforgivable. But, it is fiction, and one has to suspend the whole reality thing and just take it as it is.

Has Kissing Under the Mistletoe: A St. Helena Vineyard Novel, Book 1 turned you off from other books in this genre?

Absolutely not. It is one of my favorites.

Have you listened to any of Renee Raudman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

All the same, I think she's a good narrator, does well with the different voices.

Any additional comments?

I picked this up with the Kindle Unlimited, so it was utterly free, I'm not sure I'd have been so accepting of its mediocrity had I paid money for it.

Many uninteresting misunderstandings, adding troubles upon troubles for poor Regan. Some readers will enjoy this type of humor in a slapstick sort of way, but it did not work for me. I was impatient, wanting it to be over.

Regan is a single mom who has been unable to find work in her field (wine marketing) for six years - because Gabe repeatedly sabotages her career. He is wealthy and influential in the wine industry. Regan’s goal in life is providing the best she can for her daughter Holly. Regan does stupid things and makes stupid choices which snowball into problems.

The story opens with stupidity. Regan sees Gabe in a grocery story. She’s so upset that she walks out of the store without paying for her purchase. Then she damages Gabe’s car by running her grocery cart into it and throws several small statues from the nearby Christmas display at his car causing a broken window, dents, and scratches. He watches her do this. Then she puts one of the statues (Randolph a reindeer) in her trunk and drives away. The subject of who will pay for the damages to his car and the statues never comes up in the book. The town is upset at the theft of Randolph, with the sheriff planning to arrest the thief.

Randolph in her car trunk causes repeated problems for Regan. Notices are posted asking for help to find Randolph. So why does Regan tear down a bunch of notices to throw them away? And then she is seen doing that. She tries a few times to return Randolph but people are there. Why didn’t she go in the middle of the night? Or leave him somewhere with an anonymous note or a phone call to the authorities. No, she creates embarrassing situations for herself.

Another poor choice:Isabelle wants to hurt and humiliate Regan every chance she gets. Regan knows this. Regan is a single mom working as a hotel maid. So why does Regan let Isabelle sign her up to volunteer for the children’s Christmas play? She later discovers that Isabelle signed her up as chairwomen of the most expensive and time consuming job. Instead of getting out of it claiming there was a misunderstanding, Regan takes it on. Has she no brain? Has she no backbone?

One part I liked:One dimensional Isabelle. For those who have volunteered for charitable organizations, you will find parts of Isabelle in the most unpleasant people you’ve known and had to work with.

As to the romance:Regan and Gabe desire each other and begin a relationship, but during the book a series of things happen causing misunderstandings and problems for them. These problems did not entertain me - maybe because they were one person assuming something inaccurate about the other - causing angst and worry. For example, she doesn’t tell him a minor thing from her past. When he later discovers it he is angry and disses her in public - won’t take her phone call. It’s a problem because only part of the story was told to him, not the whole thing. When he later learns the whole story, it’s no problem after all. Yes these types of misunderstandings are commonly used in romances. Sometimes they work. But for me they did not work here.

Just missed the mark for me. The "hero" destroyed the main character's life for six years, but he was just being a good brother. :/ A few humorous moments, but more the roll your eyes kind. A little steam, but again just missing something for me. Of all the towns she could settle in to raise her daughter, she chooses right in the middle of family that she inadvertently hurt. Just not "real" enough for my enjoyment. Way too much angst and drama without enough of a pay off.

What did you love best about Kissing Under the Mistletoe: A St. Helena Vineyard Novel, Book 1?

The love story is the best part of the book. The conflict between Gabe wanting to be the support for his family and falling in love with a woman that the family doesn't trust is believable.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Kissing Under the Mistletoe: A St. Helena Vineyard Novel, Book 1?

Every moment with Gabe and Holly, Reagan's daughter is precious.

What does Renee Raudman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The funny moments are perfectly delivered by the narrator. I love the crazy grandmothers. They are a meddling group (Gabe’s grandmother and her friends).

Any additional comments?

Kissing Under the Mistletoe is Gabe DeLuca’s story. Gabe has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. He takes over the reins of the winery business after his parents’ death and takes care of his younger siblings too. He is a firm believer in family first and will do anything to protect them. So when they found his sister’s husband having an affair he set out to make Regan Martin’s life miserable without having all the facts. He is a little over-the-top mean to her for a while.

Regan Martin fell for the sweet talking sleaze Richard. It turns out that he is married to Abby Deluca. As soon as the DeLuca clan found out about Regan they use their influence in the wine industry to make it difficult for her to get and keep a job. This went on for six years until she ended up in Napa Valley. She is confident that she is finally in a place far away from the DeLucas and a better place where she can raise her daughter. Unfortunately Regan ends up working for Gabe, the mastermind of all her bad fortune.

I feel a connection with Regan from the start. She is a young girl of nineteen, alone after her mother died, when Richard the sleaze seduced her. She paid a heavy price for her mistake and desperately wants to move on and do right for her daughter, Holly.

Holly is a sweet and loving little girl who easily wins the hearts of the people around her and the reader too. Every scene that Holly is in is sweet and memorable.

I understand Gabe’s actions somewhat. He is a good man and tries to protect his family every way he can. He acts without thinking of the person on the other end of his anger. He doesn’t really want to hurt Regan and Holly but his loyalty is to Abby. Once he meets and gets to know them, he doesn’t want to stand in her way any longer.

There are funny moments in the story that center on the town’s Christmas traditions. There are friendships established and vindictive women to get past. Both Regan and Gabe make mistakes as their relationship grows. With the alternating points of view we feel their pain and joy as they admit their feelings and work to rectify the errors.

All in all Kissing Under the Mistletoe is a fun to listen to and the Christmas theme adds to the story. I like the way Ms. Adair weaves her story and develops the characters. I recommend the book, the audio and the series. It is a good romance. I will definitely purchase the other books and audios in the Napa series.